11-year-old charged after bringing toy gun to school
By JOHN A. WINTERSjohn@newnan.com
An 11-year-old boy faces a weapons charge after authorities found an Airsoft pistol in his backpack at a specialized school for students with emotional or behavioral issues.
The incident occurred Friday at the Burwell Psychoeducational Center when a student noticed the toy gun in the boy’s backpack. School officials were notified and a School Resource Officer with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office was called in, according to Major Jimmy Yarbrough.
Airsoft guns use round plastic pellets similar in size to BBs.
The juvenile, who was not identified because of his age, was charged with weapons in a school safety zone and will have to appear in Juvenile Court, the major said.
The center operates on a contract basis with the Coweta County School System to provide services for those with emotional or behavioral issues, according to Dean Jackson, public information officer for the school system.
The program leases the Westside School property, on Westside School Road, for program space, and is where the incident occurred.
